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Boom clap, the sound of my heart

A year ago I decided to start putting my thoughts into words and typing them onto the blogger platform. I had no idea what I was doing, and I really didn't think I would come as far as I have in the past year.

I mean, I started out with the frame of mind that I didn't care who read my words. I didn't even advertise the fact that I even had one, let alone identified myself as a blogger. I was a writer. And I still am. Just a writer that has written over 250 blog posts, who's words have had over 40,000 total views and almost 600 readers (GFC & Bloglovin), and who's 140 charters or less quips of daily life reach over 1,300 twitter, insta, & facebook followers.

Wowza!!!

My very first de-virginizing post was my 30 by 30 list, so I find it only reasonable to rehash that list, and find out where I am a year later, right? Right.

Like I said, my first post when I started this little piece of the blogosphere, was detailing my thirty by thirty list. I made it a couple of months before I turned 28, and truthfully, I don't know where exactly my head was at when I made it. In the year after making it, I have realized that I had actually only completed four of the nine things that were checked off, and I actually never finished the damn list in the first place. Sure, this type of list should be one of those ones that you make on the eve of your 20th birthday, but we all know that 30 is the farthest thing from your mind at that point.

Anyways, the list (redone and finished)...

My list

(the ones I have completed are highlighted with a date after):

1) Experience love at first sight.(completed September 2010 when my son was born)

2) Marry someone that I am deeply in love with.(completed September 2009)

3) Swim in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Caribbean Oceans.

4) Take a cruise. I did this in high school and have no idea why it's on this list.

4) Take my son on a boat ride.

5) Finish a novel (publishing not required).

6) Go to New Orleans.(completed March 2012)

7) Find a happy weight. This is bs, I will always be self conscious, but it's not always about weight.

7) Meet a celebrity. (Completed September 2010)

8) Find a job that pays well, and that I love.

9) Have a baby!(completed September 29... His name is Gavin)

10) Read and finish book.(completed 2013.. Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy... what can I say)

14) Go to Las Vegas and see at least one show.(completed September 2009)

15) Get another tattoo.

16) Go to Niagara Falls.

17) Take a trip to Washington DC, and visit all of the monuments and museums.

18) Obtain a passport and take a trip to Canada.

19) Go apple picking in Michigan.

20) To have a blog following of 50 within the first 6 months.(completed February 2014)

21) To buy a house.

22) Paint with a penguin.

23) Learn to love running. Never going to happen!

23) Own a DSLR camera and know how to use it.

24) Get my graduate degree.(completed May 2014) 25 ) Ride an elephant.(completed May 2014)26) See Garth Brooks in concert. (completed September 2014)

27) Celebrate five years of being married with the man I love. (completed September 2014)

28) Ride a four wheeler.

29) Meet at least one blogger friend.(competed July 2014)

30) Break my addiction to cigarettes.

To this date, I have completed 13 of my thirty by thirty list, and by the end of the year, I hope to accomplish at least four more! But to thank you all for being on this journey with me, I want to give you a chance to win a big ole' beauty bundle!

Terms & Conditions:-The giveaway is only open to US residents. I'm sorry international friends, but I really don't think customs would allow me to send you everything pictured.-Total value of the prize is less than $100.-There will be only one winner.-Once selected, winner will be contacted, and then have 48 hours to respond. If winner does not respond, another winner will be selected.

I blog over at The Macarthurs Lately. The best advice I've received is to be honest. My blog is mainly a tool for me to remember life's little moments. I've enjoyed it so far and hope to continue to blog for a long time!

Your 30 by 30 list is great! I think you could totally knock out of few by the time the year is over! Like: get another tattoo (something related to your son's birth?!), go apple picking (seems to be all the rage with other bloggers I follow), and start kicking cigarettes to the curb (it'll be so much healthier for you!)

I think the best advice I've ever received as a blogger is to never give up, and that my voice matters. It's easy to get discouraged when we see so many other bloggers out there, but to know that there is always a place for every voice is important. I can't tell you how many times I thought "well who is going to read my blog when there are so many others that write about similar things?" I'm so glad I stuck with it and continue to grow every day! Congratulations on your 1 year, and thanks for such a fun giveaway!

Hi Tabitha! I think this is a really great list! I want to go to New Orleans too. Just went to Washington DC for the first time - it's wonderful, and there's so much to see, and it's all free! I definitely recommend it. Which celebrity did you meet? I just followed you on Bloglovin, twitter, instagram & GFC - can't wait for future posts! :)

This is a great giveaway, I love all of the fun girly things I could win! The best advice I have been given about blogging is probably that you have to have a passion for it and be consistent. I found your giveaway through the Beauty and Fashion Bloggers group on facebook!